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Sunday, May 20, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 21, 2012

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I finished three books and am well into three more. I posted three book reviews, two interviews with Giveaways and a Kindle Blogger Giveaways.  I also posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words. 

I visited a group of blogs last week for What are you reading and Mailbox Monday. As usual once I get past Sunday and Monday I didn't find any more time to visit. Thanks to the nice people who visited me.

These were last week's posts plus Winner post not listed.
  • Book Review: Charlinder's Walk by Alyson Miers; Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic;  my rating 4.25
Finished Reading:
1. Audio
 

by Julia Franklin
A different listen; review is linked above.



2. eBook/Kindle:
 

by Jacquie Rogers
This is fun reading.
Review, Interview and Giveaway are linked above.




3. Audible
 


I enjoyed this and will post a review this week. I read this from my own TBR.
Blurb from Audible.com: Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.
An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River - one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help....


Line Edits/Releases: Nothing uploaded this week.


Currently reading:
1. ebook/Kindle
 

by Joyce DiPastena
I started this on my Kindle and it is a wonderful read.
I am at 78% and moving right along.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father's innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father's past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams.

Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri's attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?



2. Print
 

by Jill Shalvis
I pulled this out to start and haven't wanted to put it down so I am over half way done.
The review and Giveaway will post on Thursday, May 24, 2012.
Book Description
Publication Date: May 22, 2012 | Series: A Lucky Harbor Novel (Book 4)
Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone . . .
For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn?t?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all . . . anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.



3. Print



by Rebecca Land Soodak
I am a third into this but set it aside to read Lucky for this week.  Reviewing for Hachette.
Book Description
Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Kara Caine Lawson has worked hard to become the woman she is-wife, mother and successful shop owner. Having survived a turbulent childhood, Kara understands that life could've just as easily gone another way . . . and even if she isn't gliding through the trials of lost library books, entitled customers and routine date nights, at least she's not sipping a Dewar's all day like her mother did.

But then Kara unexpectedly encounters paintings by her now-famous college boyfriend just as she's beginning to suspect that her daughter Henny's difficulties may be the sign of something serious, and all of her past decisions are thrown into dramatic relief.

Kara's narration, at turns heartbreaking and hilarious, captures the imperfect thoughts we have about ourselves and those around us. Rebecca Land Soodak's debut novel asks the difficult questions about the choices we make while revealing the minute details that end up defining our lives.



4.  Audio MP3
 

by Laura Kreitzer
Narrated by Karen Savage
I just started this Audio. Reviewing for Revolution Publishing through AudioJukebox.
Blurb from Audible.com: Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she's lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?



I am again listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. 
[Reading and listening on my new MP3.]
Instead of studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year I am studying with Through the Bible in One Year by Alan B. Stringfellow. It is a Study that I used for teaching back in around 1989 so I will enjoy it again. This week's reading is Ezekiel.

Line Edits: Working on finishing two line edits; have several book conversions ready to upload to Kindle/Smashwords.


I brought a couple of April books into May to finish which gave me 11 or so books scheduled to read for review in May. --Eight completed; 3 this week; 3+ remaining.
Don't miss the THREE KINDLE GIVEAWAY EVENTS posted this month and noted in the Tour box on the right sidebar.

May Scheduled Events:
May 24 Forever Romance Blog Tour: Book Review and Giveaway Lucky in Love (A Lucky Harbor Novel by Jill Shalvis

Unscheduled but Planned for April:

Hachette-
Henny on the Couch by Rebecca Land Soodak

Sourcebooks:
Under Fire (Elite Force: That Others May Live) by Catherine Mann

AudioJukebox
Phantom Universe

Author Reviews:
Foolish Games (Book 3 of the Family Heirlooms Series) by Karen Wiesner
Dangerous Favors by Joyce DiPastena.

Reading for Book Club: Calico Canyon - Lassoed In Texas by Mary Connealy

NetGalley
I have several chosen but not sure if they will make May reading.

[To be posted - I am setting these up for interview/feature days.
These were read and ready for reviews for Authors.
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.]
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Sunday Words of Encouragement May 20, 2012

We shared lunch at Connect groups after church today so this is posting a little later.

I enjoyed our Sunday School lesson from Ezekiel chapters 34 through 36. Ezekiel prophesied regarding the future of Israel; its desolation and restoration.  Mark Twain visited the territory of Israel in 1867 and noted that the land was empty, destitute, and a barren desert. Now Israel is fruitful and supplies produce to surrounding countries.

We have had two serious accidents to people and loved ones in our church. We give thanks that no one has been seriously injured. Our teacher also pointed out that an important thing to realize is that tomorrow is gone and we may not be here for the future. We are responsible to live today as best we can with God's direction. 

This is the song we sang this morning.
A wonderful song with a great message!

Verses for Today:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

I am praying especially this week for an online blogger friend who is suffering and needs healing.
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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #49 Comment Giveaway May 19, 2012

Welcome to SBB! Made it through another week! The weather is beautiful and I expect to actually get in the pool this week.

Thank you to all those who commented last week.

The most favorite mode of transportation was flying, 5 votes. The second surprised me: cars (including highway travel and road trips), 4 votes. Then 3 votes for trains and 1 each for bus and cruising.  I like that Birgit prefers walking... definitely not a US thing where you generally have to get in a car to get anywhere. :-)

I'm so sorry for those whose Mother's are gone or ill. I was pleased to read that many of you share favorite authors with your Moms.
~~~~

The Winner from SBB #48 comments is: #3 Linda K. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Linda please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #49 Questions

Q1.  Margaret asks: When reading a historical fiction does it bother you if the facts are not historically correct??
A:  I do enjoy reading historical fiction and I wouldn't be happy with obvious errors... like a zipper or snap before they existed... although in truth I wouldn't know that unless I looked it up. I suppose most historic details I wouldn't know were correct or not, especially history of another country.  So I guess the story facts have to feel right for the time. I did find several interesting blog articles about errors in details.
I have been annoyed reading foul language in a historical novel not because it didn't exist but it would rarely have been spoken in presence of the ladies and to me can better be referred to (muttered curse, etc.) rather than actually using the word(s).

Oh - well - try to come up with an image for this one! LOL
Image found at  http://www.teamscw.net

Q2. My question this week:  What is your favorite vegetable to eat??
A: I really do like vegetables although I am not a big salad eater. When I make a salad I put in only a little lettuce and lots of everything else. But -- my favorite vegetable is Artichoke! Sometimes I will have just that for dinner - steamed and served with butter for dipping.


Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)  The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions! 

Your turn to share:

1. Margaret asks: When reading a historical fiction does it bother you if the facts are not historically correct??
 
2. What is your favorite vegetable to eat??
 
SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 10 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, May 25, 2012 at 10 PM central.
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Winners of The Book of Madness and Cure and ARC of Kiss of the Goblin Prince

Congratulations to Winners
Rachel

Thank you to everyone who entered.
Tea, Beth and Rachel please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail out or let the Publisher know to send the books.  Please reply within 72 hours!
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Interview and Giveaway (Open Worldwide) with Jacquie Rogers, Author

Hello Jacquie! Thank you for sharing at Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.

Questions for Jacquie:
Q1  What inspired you to write western romance?
JR: Thanks so much for inviting me today, Martha!  Ah, western romance—I have a contemporary out although right now I’m peddling my western historical series, ♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥, so I can apply the answer to both.  Mostly it has to do with where I grew up, which is in Owyhee County in the southwest corner of Idaho. 

Time sorta passed us by out there, although we were blissfully unaware of it.  Our family went to Grange dances on Saturday nights where they played Little Brown Jug and old songs of that ilk.  Not a week went by but what there would be some sort of community event—a farmer might be laid up and need his fields plowed, disked, harrowed, and planted; or maybe someone was building a house.  We’d pack up food and tools, then make a day of it.  I had no idea that people didn’t do this everywhere.

Then there’s the history of the place.  Drive south and you can visit a mining town, Silver City, that never knew it was supposed to be a ghost town.  Many of the buildings have be preserved and made into residences.  The Idaho Hotel is still in operation.  And it still doesn’t have electricity.  It’s a wonderful place to spend a day.

Not too far from our farm is an old stage stop.  We explored every inch of it as kids, played cowboys and robbers, and had a ball.  Oh, and we rode our horses all over everywhere.  In the other direction from the stage stop is Graveyard Point, which is well-known in rockhound circles for its geodes.  We didn’t much care about that but we sure had a lot of fun riding there and swimming in the canal below.  Some of these features are in the third book in the series, Much Ado About Mavericks, which will be released in a couple weeks.

What specifically inspired me?  Maybe it was those Holsteins—I wanted them to be Texas Longhorns.  Or it could’ve been Dad’s Buick, which I thought of as a stagecoach under attack.  As a kid, my mind kept thinking up all these stories and, well, I guess I just never grew up!

Q2  I just reviewed Much Ado About Marshals and I see that you have a new title out called Much Ado About Madams. Are your books stand alone or part of a series and if series did you have each book plotted out before you started the first one or did the subsequent book(s) flow from the first?
JR: The series, ♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥, is actually a set of books connected by time, location, and a few peripheral characters.  It’s not a true series with an overall story arc, or any cliffhanger endings.  The books can be standalone and read in any order.  In fact, the second book, Much Ado About Madams, actually takes place a couple years before MuchAdo About Marshals, which was released first.  I’m currently writing Daisy’s sister’s story in the fourth book, Much Ado About Miners.  I’m not very far into that book yet so it will be at least six months before it sees the light of day. 

Q3  Please share with us one surprising thing about your experience writing Much Ado About Marshals, or about something else related to your career as a writer.
JR: I had to do quite a bit of research into patent medicines and I, in my naïveté, had no idea that heroine and cocaine were common ingredients in them.  Anyone could get these medicines and many substances that are illegal or regulated now were as common as aspirin.  (Side note: In 1900, Bayer trademarked both Aspirin and Heroin, but lost the trademarks in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles.) 

I used Hoffstetter’s Stomach Bitters, which contained heroine, so the widows, who both took it for “nervousness,” displayed signs of heroin addiction, which I also had to research.  Of course, addiction wasn’t common knowledge so my characters’ perspective was mostly that the widows were a little crazy.  Another patent medicine, Dr. Liebig’s Lost Manhood Restorer, well, I’ll just let everyone wonder how I used that. Hahaha.

Q4  How do find your characters and personalities?  Is there any special inspiration?
JR: Cole Richards came from several sources.  His pure heart and altruism come from a man who owned a farm near ours.  His dilemma came from a song about a woman who was in love with two men, and I wondered what that would be like if the two men were brothers, from the “losing” brother’s point of view.  And the identity issues come straight from Shakespeare, who loved to write romantic comedies where no one was who anyone else thought they were.  I find that concept irresistible!

Daisy was one of the most stubborn characters I ever worked with.  I knew the moment I imagined her bounding up the steps of the Oreana general store (now a church)  carrying a package, that this was a fireball of a woman who knew what she wanted and was absolutely determined to get it, whether it was appropriate or not.  But I didn’t know exactly what she did want, and she simply wouldn’t tell me.  She taunted me and refused to cooperate until I guessed her secret.  She’d let me write about two chapters, then slam on the brakes.  Finally, after many iterations, there she was pouring her heart out to me, but still laughing at me because she’d given me a rocky ride. 

Q5  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality?
JR: Happy.

Q6  What gave you the idea to create the smart, loveable character of Katie, the mule?
JR: Her owner was rather eccentric—he over-compensated for his small stature by learning Kung Fu, and he certainly didn’t follow any trends.  Others thought they had it made when they could buy a blooded horse, so he bought a blooded mule.  Then I did quite a bit if research on mules because I’ve never owned one.  I always thought they were like horses only more stubborn.  Come to find out, mules that come from superior horse and donkey stock are far smarter, stronger, and have completely different personalities than horses do.  In one training manual, the author equates mule personality more to that of a dog only more intelligent.  Add in the current passion for mule racing, and Katie the racing mule was born. 
She doesn’t play a large part in the book, but a strong one.  And even more importantly, she spawned the idea for Socrates in Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues and Merlin in Willow, Wish For Me.

Questions for Daisy:

Q1  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality?
Daisy: Determined.

Q2  What is something you would never be caught dead doing/saying?
Daisy: I’d never be stuck out on a farm raising chickens and children while my husband had all the fun.

Q3  Do you have any pet peeves?
Daisy: I simply cannot abide dishonesty.  If a man can’t tell the truth, I won’t be giving him the time of day.

Q4  When did you first become interested in crime investigation?
Daisy: I’m not sure whether my interest in forensic criminology came from the dime novel heroine, Honey Beaulieu, Lady Detective, or whether she triggered my latent interest.  Have you read Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi?  Fascinating book, and in that story, fingerprints were used to identify the murderer.  And in real life, there was Kate Warne who worked as a Pinkerton detective before the War Between the States.  I always admired her.

Q5  What is the one thing your readers would be surprised to know about you?
Daisy: I can track clues, sort out what’s real and what’s bogus, and spend hours examining whorls in a fingerprint, but those organizational skills don’t transfer to, um, (whispers) housekeeping.

Find Jacquie and her books at these links:
Much Ado About Marshals (Print): http://amzn.com/146639952X
Much Ado About Marshals (Kindle): http://amzn.com/B0058ON1LS
Much Ado About Madams (Kindle): http://amzn.com/B007HRTQ0O

Website: http://www.JacquieRogers.com
Romancing The West: http://romancingthewest.blogspot.com
Jacquie’s blog: http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JacquieRogersAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JacquieRogers
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jacquierogers
 

Thank you to Jacquie for offering a GIVEAWAY for one lucky commenter:
US Only: Autographed print copy of MuchAdo About Marshals 
Canada or International: Kindle copy of Much Ado About Marshals and a $10 Amazon gift certificate.

Daisy's Final Question for the giveaway: 
Daisy: If faced with the dilemma where being honest and true to the person you love would place your closest friend in danger of losing his life, you’d __________.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:
1. Make a meaningful comment on the Interview or Review -  something more specific please than "nice review", "good interview" - note some detail. :-).
2.  For an extra 2 entries, answer Daisy's Final Question.
3.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
(Four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER - either print or kindle + GC!
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 1, 2012.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on June 2 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.
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